WILDFIRE, DROUGHT CAUSE $11.2 BILLION IN DAMAGE TO PRIVATE TIMBERLAND

today.oregonstate.edu

Between California, Oregon, and Washington, wildfires and droughts over the past decade have resulted in approximately $11.2 billion in damages to privately held timberland according to a new study published in the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management.

Data utilized in the study included over 9,000 sales of privately-owned timberland that were over 10 acres and transacted from 2004 to 2020. Results found that drought stress reduced the economic value of timberland by 1% on average. In addition, wildfires reduced the value of timberland by an additional 8.7% over the past two decades.

The study found that the decrease in value from wildfires was largely attributable to the frequent proximity of neighboring fires that altered landowners’ expectations of fire arrival and increased risk of investing in private timberland.

PENTAGON INVESTIGATING SIX SITES IN MINNESOTA FOR PFAS CONTAMINATION OF DRINKING WATER

MinnesotaReformer.com

The Department of Defense found PFAS chemicals in drinking water wells near military installations in Duluth and Little Falls, Minnesota. The Defense Department is now investigating six sites in the state for PFAS contamination. PFAS is a class of industrial chemicals that do not break down in the environment and can build up in humans over time. They are associated with reproductive problems and some cancers. The Defense Department is testing water supplies near military sites that have used firefighting foams containing PFAS chemicals.

EPA STRIKES CLEANUP DEAL 36 YEARS AFTER INFORMING POLLUTER ABOUT TOXIC LIABILITY

EPA.gov

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed a settlement with the Stepan Chemical Company to address contaminated soil at a Superfund site in Bergen County, New Jersey. The proposal suggests that the potentially responsible party, Stepan Company, remove and dispose of the contaminated soil from several non-residential properties at the Maywood Chemical Company Superfund Site. The estimated cost of this cleanup is $8.6 million.

Maywood Chemical Company processed radioactive thorium ore on site from 1916 through 1955. Workers used chemical waste materials as fill on site and in nearby properties.

Stepan Company bought Maywood Chemical Works in 1959 and remains the current owner of the property. Stepan Company agreed to the EPA’s cleanup plan and has already completed cleanup for several residential properties in the area.

FINANCE MINISTRY INVESTIGATORS CHARGE 5 INDIVIDUALS FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE THROUGH TAX FORGERY

AARP.org

The Investigation Service of Georgia’s Finance Ministry charged five individuals with manufacturing and using forged tax documents, resulting in a “large amount” of property damage. The offenders established two fictitious companies to produce eight forged documents that alleged performance of works. They created and used $38,676 in VAT assets through the false documentation. The Service said that the state was being compensated appropriately for the damages caused and the crime was punishable by four to seven years in prison.

METHODIST CHURCH SUES CITY OF OKEMAH FOR CREATING A STINKY MESS

OkemahNewsLeader.com

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church filed a lawsuit against the city of Okemah on Monday, September 25. The church alleges the City of Okemah and the Utility Authority were responsible for the maintenance, repair, and operation of the sewer system partially located on the Plaintiff’s real property. The property located at 202 North 3rd Street was flooded with raw sewage and caused substantial property damage. The church affirms that the sewer system is an ongoing nuisance, both private and public. The church and other plaintiffs are seeking abatement and over $75,000.

MORROW, UMATILLA COUNTIES RECEIVE $1.7M TO ADDRESS NITRATE CONTAMINATION

HermistonHerald.com

Nitrate contamination is impacting residential wells in two counties in northeast Oregon. As part of a congressional spending bill, Umatilla and Morrow counties will receive $1.7 million in federal aid to address the contamination. The funding will be used to implement a standardized well-testing program for domestic wells and to develop permanent drinking water solutions.

It is estimated that 3,291 private domestic wells may be polluted with unhealthy levels of nitrate within the management area. State agencies and volunteers are offering to test residents’ wells for free. Bottled water is now being delivered to 341 households. Water treatment systems have been installed in 28 homes.

EF2 TORNADO CAUSES DAMAGE IN PALM COAST, FLORIDA

MyNews13.com

Palm Coast, Florida, experienced the wrath of an EF-2 tornado that wreaked havoc, causing extensive real estate damage. With peak winds of 115 mph, the tornado left a mile-long path of destruction, impacting properties, downing trees, and overturning vehicles. Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries, but several families faced catastrophic property losses. Local authorities, including Palm Coast Fire Department and emergency management teams, are working to assess the damage and provide assistance to affected residents.

The National Weather Service will officially confirm the tornadic activity’s cause, while the community is urged to avoid hazardous storm-impacted areas. A Family Assistance Center has been set up to support residents in need.

WICHITA RESIDENTS SUE UNION PACIFIC OVER TOXIC METAL CONTAMINATION

WichitaBeacon.org

Residents near a contaminated groundwater site in north Wichita have filed a class-action lawsuit against Union Pacific, alleging exposure to toxic materials. The lawsuit accuses Union Pacific of negligence in preventing groundwater contamination, contaminating private properties, trespassing contaminants onto neighboring properties, and violating state pollution laws.

The contamination, traced back to the 70s or 80s, concerns about cancer clusters in the affected area raised in 2022. The lawsuit covers nearly 3,000 homes. Union Pacific claims compliance with regulations and prioritizing community health.

$30M BIL INVESTMENT ADVANCES SUPERFUND CLEANUP ON ATLANTA’S WESTSIDE

CNU.org

Federal, state and local officials gathered in Atlanta’s Westside last Thursday evening to recognize two milestones in the cleanup of the Westside Lead Superfund Site. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) $30 million is being invested to support the Westside cleanup. The other milestone being celebrated is 20 Atlanta area residents graduated from the EPA’s Superfund Job Training Initiative or “SuperJTI.”

The BIL funds will be used to excavate and safely dispose of lead-contaminated soil at residential properties. There are 2,097 properties in the study area and 1,251 properties have been sampled so far. Of those, 528 had lead in the soil above 400mg/kg threshold for cleanup and cleanup activities have been completed at 229 properties. The EPA continues to seek permission from property owners and tenants on the Westside to perform free sampling of their yards.

FARMERS, ILLINOIS SAY SPIRE HASN’T DONE ENOUGH TO FIX DAMAGE FROM STL PIPELINE

STLToday.com

Rocks as big as hubcaps called combine killers are what sits on the surface of farmland in Green County, Illinois as a result of the Spire STL Pipeline. Foot-deep gullies scar areas of farmland where crops used to grow along with piles of debris.

Years after the pipeline began delivering gas to the St. Louis region, Illinois farmers claim its construction damaged portions of their land making it impossible to grow crops and dangerous to run farm machinery through. A consultant representing landowners said he is aware of about 40 damaged properties. Spire is pushing to dispel the latest petition stating that it hasn’t violated any laws or regulations. The company added that it will “continue to work in good faith by being proactive and transparent in resolving outstanding restoration concerns.”

When the pipeline was put into the ground, the topsoil and the lower-quality lighter soil beneath were supposed to be kept in separate piles and then dropped back into place. But that didn’t happen correctly in some places leading to drainage and erosion problems washing the topsoil away. One farmer had some of the most productive farmland in the state, even winning awards before the pipeline was built across his land. “They’ve destroyed the productivity,” Gettings said.

DNR: WAUSAU TO INVESTIGATE GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION DETECTED AT 1300 CLEVELAND AVENUE

WausauPilotAndReview.com

Wisconsin state officials have confirmed groundwater contamination has been detected at a city-owned property slated for redevelopment in Wausau, prompting a larger investigation. City officials have long debated the fate of the property located at 1300 Cleveland Avenue, which has demonstrated environmental contamination traced to a business investigated by the state for dumping hazardous waste.

Groundwater sampling from on-site monitoring wells has shown elevated levels of PFAS compounds as well as detections in soil samples taken at the site. The Department of Natural Resources has requested that the City expand their investigation to determine the extent of groundwater contamination associated with PFAS compounds.

Considering the demographic and socioeconomic makeup of the neighborhood, Citizens for a Clean Wausau representatives say there should be no other choice than to remediate to the highest standard with no new industrialization.

MOROCCO BEGINS PROVIDING CASH TO FAMILIES WHOSE HOMES WERE DESTROYED BY EARTHQUAKE

EckvilleEcho.com

On Friday, October 7, 2023, Moroccan authorities said that they had begun providing money to those whose homes were destroyed during the earthquake. The government stated that initial monthly payments of $242 would be disbursed starting on October 6. These payments a one of the several forms of relief that Morocco plans to provide. The government plans to provide temporary rehousing assistance and up to $13,600 to rebuild destroyed homes. Additionally, there are plans to rebuild about 1,000 schools and 42 health centers.

The Royal Cabinet said that payments would go to 50,000 households in the affected region. Morocco has also pledged to upgrade and widen roads and offer additional assistance to farmers and herders.

STRUCTURE FIRE CAUSES $4M IN DAMAGE TO KAPALUA HOME

KHON2.com

On Wednesday morning October 4 a home on Plantation Club Drive in Kapalua sustained $4 million in damage due to a fire. The fire was reported at 1:56 a.m. and covered 60% of the structure. The fire was contained by 6:51 a.m. and extinguished by 1:30 p.m. There were no occupants within, and the cause of the fire is undetermined.

60 MPH WIND, HAIL LEAVES MIDLAND HOMES, BUSINESSES DAMAGED

www.CBS7.com

Golf ball sized hail and 60 mph winds hit many homes in Midland Texas on Tuesday October 3rd. One resident came home to a destroyed trampoline and a downed tree which damaged the roof. Another resident had their brick-and-mortar fence torn down due to the strong winds. Kyle Archer owner of Pro Hail Damage states that thousands of claims can come in with thousands of dollars of damage within two to three minutes.

MOST WELL-WATER USERS IN NORTHEAST OREGON COUNTIES STILL IN THE DARK ABOUT TOXIC CONTAMINATION

KGW.com

Having been launched seven months ago a program testing for contamination has tested less than one third of household wells in Oregon countries Morrow and Umatilla. Social justice group Oregon Rural Action stated that the testing campaign failed to meet Gov. Tina Kotek’s expectations set in May 2023 saying that all wells would be tested by the end of September 2023. While the agency was criticized, they claimed their program was a success with 1,000 out of 3,300 wells tested stating that the goal was to test or offer testing, not necessarily to ensure all wells were tested.

Out of the 1,000 wells tested, 235 had nitrate levels above the EPA safe drinking limits. The nitrate pollutions is likely caused in part by agricultural fertilizers and animal manure used on nearby farms. The Oregon Health Authority launched a testing campaign in March offering free vouchers to test water.

THE ROLE OF E-WASTE IN SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION

GenevaEnvironmentNetwork.org

Since 2014 there has been a 20% increase in in global E-waste generation. In 2021 the construction industry accounted for 37% of process related carbon emissions. Additionally, the industry uses about 40% of raw materials globally. With this information there has been a strong demand for increased sustainability in construction.

Waste Printed Circuit Boards (WPCBs) contain a blend of fiberglass, copper, epoxy resins, plastics, gold, and silver. They also contain hazardous elements like cadmium, mercury, and lead. Due to the many materials that compose WPCBs recycling becomes difficult.

One study showed that incorporating WPCB fibers into concrete significantly increased its mechanical strength. This offers a potential solution to making construction more sustainable as well as creating a more sustainable method of recycling WPCBs.

PAPER MILL POTENTIALLY SUBJECT TO RICO CLAIMS STEMMING FROM PFAS CONTAMINATION

CMBG3.com

A federal magistrate judge recommended that a plaintiff’s RICO claims over PFAS contamination proceed to discovery against a paper manufacturing company in Massachusetts that allegedly sent PFAS-contaminated byproducts to a composting facility in Westminster, Massachusetts. According to the magistrate, the allegations were sufficient to avoid preliminary summary dismissal, but that does not mean the allegations were true or have been proven true.

Seaman Paper filed an objection to the magistrate’s report and recommendations with the intent to prove that the facts alleged in the complaint are false. The next step is for a federal judge to review Seaman Paper’s objections and the magistrate's report and recommendation and determine if they will adopt or reject the magistrate's ruling.

If the magistrate’s ruling is not rejected and continues to discovery, then it has the potential to significantly expand the prospective liability of corporate defendants for PFAS contamination.

FORT MYERS HOUSING AUTHORITY RECEIVES $1.6M HUD GRANT TO MITIGATE HURRICANE DAMAGE

ABCNews.go.com

The Housing Authority of Fort Myers was recently awarded a $1,672,000 grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development Housing-Related Hazard Fund Program. The grant was awarded to mitigate damage from Hurricane Ian to the city’s public housing units.

Damage from Hurricane Ian included flood damage, windblown rain damage, roof damage, and more. The Housing Authority intends to use the funds to remediate microbial growth in 364 housing units in Renaissance Preserve, Horizons Apartments, and Royal Palm Towers communities.

The grant will also assist public housing agencies with complying with the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate, which improves HUDS oversight by consolidating inspection regulations across multiple programs.

AUBURN FAMILY DISPLACED AFTER FIRE

AuburnPub.com

A residential fire on September 25 displaced a family residing in Auburn, Washington and resulted in approximately $20,000 worth of damage to the home. The fire department stated that the fire was caused by a space heater plugged into an extension cord power strip. The family delayed reporting the fire because they assumed a fault in their alarm system. Two adults and one child were displaced by the fire. The fire did not cause any injuries.

DC SECURES $57 MILLION FROM PEPCO OVER ALLEGED CONTAMINATION IN ANACOSTIA RIVER

News.law

Washington D.C.’s Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced an environmental settlement in which Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco) agreed to pay $57 million for cleanup and penalties for its alleged contamination of the Anacostia River. The company will spend $47 million toward cleaning the Anacostia River, as well as contamination found at its Buzzard Point and Benning Road facilities. Pepco will spend an additional $10 million toward penalties. AG Schwalb states that Pepco’s pollution of the Anacostia River was “chronic, illegal, and intentional.”